Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issued an Executive Order requiring the Directors of the Office of Buildings and the Office of Zoning and Development to “refuse to accept new applications for rezonings, building permits for new construction, land disturbance permits, special use permits, special administrative permits, subdivisions, replattings, and lot consolidations for non-public projects” in the neighborhoods surrounding Westside Park to address rapid gentrification occurring in the area, particularly in the Grove Park neighborhood that sits just south of the park.
“A key pillar to the Administration’s comprehensive affordable housing plan is ensuring long-term residents are not priced out of the neighborhoods they have built,” Mayor Bottoms said in a prepared statement this week.
“We know that every permit triggers some form of change in these communities, and it is of the utmost importance that development is carried out in a deliberate, fair and thoughtful manner.”
The moratorium outlined in a subsequent ordinance introduced by the Administration will expire in 180 days and will not affect existing building permits or building permits required for emergency work.
During the moratorium, the Administration will engage in a community planning effort, which will include all relevant City departments and agencies.
Additionally, the Executive Order and Ordinance requests that the Department of City Planning identify the Immediate Impact Area which is being most affected by the development of the Westside Park, and develop an Equitable Development Framework for the Immediate Impact Area.
Finally, the Executive Order and Ordinance requests that the planning department align activities in the One Atlanta Housing Affordability Action Plan and develop a Westside Park Transportation Plan in alignment with the One Atlanta Strategic Transportation plan.
Read the full Executive Order at this link.
